Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

S. Creek’s model UN team continues winning season

The award winning Model United Nations team at Sandy Creek High has continued its legacy of high achievement by reaping multiple awards at high profile conferences, including the national competition last month in Chicago.

Sandy Creek was the only school from Georgia attending the Model UN Nationals Conference at the University of Chicago Feb. 3-6 where 2,300 students from private and public schools across the United States and Canada competed.

Fourteen team members represented Liberia with four of them being among 130 students to receive conference recognition. Red Powell and Ryan Holmes earned the Outstanding Delegation Award in the Disarmament Committee and Sean Healey and Lauren Russell received the Honorable Delegation Award in the Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee.

“This was a very excellent showing for Georgia’s only school at this conference,” said the team’s coach, Marlene Holland.

At the Georgia State Model UN Conference in December 2004, Sandy Creek’s Russian Federation Delegation (John Akin, Melinda Banks, Ravi Dyabhai, Sean Healey, Ryan Homes, Red Powell, Lauren Russell, Megan Smelley and Carlos Vasquez) was named one of the two Outstanding Delegations of the conference. Individual awards went to Nicole Mathis, Ed Haberen, Megan Smelley, Sean Healey, John Akin, Ryan Holmes, Young Kim Ravi Dyabhai, Jill Turner, Paris Scott, Lauren Russell, Chris Herron, Kip Dunlap, Carlow Vasquez, Kristin Porto and Red Powell.

Schools participating at Georgia State were from public and private schools throughout Metro Atlanta. At this conference, Sandy Creek received more awards in both raw numbers and percentages than any other school.

Eighteen students competed with approximately 900 students throughout the Southeast at the Georgia Tech Model UN Conference in October 2004 with the Afghanistan Delegation (John Akin, Melinda Banks, Sean Healey, Ryan Holmes, Mitchell Lentini, Red Powell, Lauren Russell and Megan Smelley) named one of the four Outstanding Delegations of the conference. Outstanding Individual Delegation Awards went to Ryan Holmes, Megan Smelley, Melinda Banks, Ravi Dayabhai and Kiara Pesante.

“Model UN teaches you things you never knew that you didn’t know. It has provided me with opportunities I never knew existed and it’s fun,” said Melinda Banks about her experiences this year on the school’s Model UN team.

Model UN is an extracurricular opportunity for students to expand international knowledge, negotiation skills, and better understand internal workings of the UN. Winning delegations and individuals must exhibit knowledge and skills on a college level.

“Model UN isn’t just a way to learn about the world; it is a way to take what you know and use it in meaningful ways,” said junior Sean Healey, who competed with his team at all three Model UN Conferences this year.

Former members of the Sandy Creek team have continued the Model UN program in university settings such as Columbia University, Notre Dame University, University of Georgia, West Point, Georgia Tech, Mercer University and Berry College. University conferences are often held at UN Headquarters in New York City and in various international locations.